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lentes

LEN-tehs/ˈlen.tes/

“lentes” means “glasses” in Spanish (eyeglasses or spectacles).

glasses

Also: spectacles
NounmA1
SpainMexico, Central America, Andean Region
A pair of simple, black, round-rimmed eyeglasses resting on a colorful surface.

📝 In Action

Perdí mis lentes de sol en la playa.

A1

I lost my sunglasses at the beach.

Necesito ir al oculista; creo que necesito lentes nuevos.

B1

I need to go to the eye doctor; I think I need new glasses.

Aunque la montura de sus lentes era de oro, él siempre fue un hombre humilde.

C1

Even though the frame of his glasses was gold, he was always a humble man.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • gafas (glasses (very common in Spain))
  • anteojos (glasses (common in South America))

Common Collocations

  • lentes de contacto – contact lenses
  • lentes de aumento – reading glasses
  • ponerme los lentes – to put on my glasses

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "lentes" in Spanish:

glasses→spectacles→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: lentes

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'lentes' to refer to a pair of glasses?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
lente(lens (singular component)) — Noun
oculista(eye doctor) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the singular noun 'lente,' which originated from the Latin word 'lens' (meaning 'lentil'). Early glass lenses were shaped like a lentil seed, giving them their name.

First recorded: 16th century (in its modern technical sense)

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: lenteEnglish: lens

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'lentes' and 'gafas'?

'Lentes' and 'gafas' both mean 'glasses' or 'eyeglasses.' 'Lentes' is the standard term used across most of Latin America, while 'gafas' is the standard term used in Spain and the Canary Islands.

If I only want to talk about a single lens (like in a camera), what word do I use?

For a single piece of glass used for focusing light (like in a camera or microscope), you use the singular form: 'la lente' (the lens).